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The Spellmonger #17

Practical Adept: Book 17 of the Spellmonger Series

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“Beware the Dusky Maidens of Farise!”

After facing war, death, and unruly gods and unmitigated evil, Minalan the Spellmonger is forced to return to Farise, the site of his earliest battles, with the simple assignment to conquer the subtropical city-state and expel the pirates that plague the kingdom’s shipping. Tired of warfare, Minalan embarks on a clandestine campaign to do so, assuming an alias and setting up shop in Farise as a mere Practical Adept as cover for his operation. Recruiting a cadre of Talented agents to assist, he reluctantly begins the task of infiltrating and observing Farisian society and its corrupt, ramshackle regime of pirates and rebels with the goal of subverting it.

But it’s not the Farisians are a strange and stubborn people whose customs and history are at odds with Minalan’s feudal sensibilities. The popular sailor’s warning to “Beware the Dusky Maidens of Farise” becomes all too apt as he secretly plots to seize the remote remnant of the Magocracy. The ancient underground organization known as the Contramara seem to be behind every plot and scheme, and unseen masters control the city like puppeteers in the Farisian marketplace. Assassination, kidnapping, extortion, betrayal and bribery are the rule of the day as different power blocs play the Game of Whispers with costumed gangs in the streets and daggers in the salons. It doesn’t take a wizard to realize that revolution is in the air and things are at a breaking point.

Minalan must struggle with the ghosts of his past as he tries to navigate an uncertain future in the hot, storm-tossed land he once occupied. Legacies from his days in the occupation army fifteen years before return to haunt him and complicate his mission while he keeps up the pretense of being a simple self-promoting Practical adept, selling his spellwork like any other artisan. But when one of the infamous “dusky maidens of Farise” stumbles across this mission with a old one-eyed wizard, things start to get complicated.

In a journey that takes him from ancient ruins to hidden temples to the sewers of Farise to the spire of the Doge’s Citadel, Minalan undertakes an adventure unlike any he’s faced before. New allies and shifting politics propel him to question his own past, his motives, and his very identity as he realizes the sinister truth in another old “Nothing is as it seems in Farise.” For there is a new, unknown power working behind the scenes, one even older and more determined than the Contramara to control the chaotic city and determine its fate. And all that stands in its way is one resolute Practical Adept!

1054 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2024

228 people are currently reading
137 people want to read

About the author

Terry Mancour

42 books1,171 followers
Terry Mancour is a New York Times Best-Selling Author who has written more than 30 books, under his own name and pseudonyms, including Star Trek: The Next Generation #20, Spartacus, the Spellmonger Series (more than 11 books and growing), among other works.

He was born in Flint, Michigan in 1968 (according to his mother) and wisely relocated to North Carolina in 1978 where he embraced Southern culture and its dedication to compelling narratives and intriguing characterizations. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Religious Studies.

Terry, his beautiful wife and three children live just outside of Durham, N.C. atop Red Mountain. He was nominated for the 2018 Audie Award for Best Fantasy for the audiobook for Spellmonger (narrated by John Lee), the first book in his Spellmonger Series.

He has plotted the Spellmonger Series for at least thirty books, in addition to his Spellmonger Cadet (young adult) series, stand-alone novels, short stories and novellas set within the Spellmonger Universe, all of which will be published by Podium as audiobooks. He is also the author of a series of sequels to Golden Age sci-fi master H. Beam Piper's novel, Space Viking, as well as original sci-fi novels.

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5 stars
1,019 (76%)
4 stars
258 (19%)
3 stars
42 (3%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for Achille B.
98 reviews
April 10, 2025
this helped me define what I consider 2 stars
- engaging enough to read through
- BUT a (disappointingly) safe pre bedtime read bc at no point was there a chance of me staying up to read a few more pages
36 reviews
October 1, 2024
Something Different and delicious

Mancour has done the amazing. He’s created something unique in the fantasy genre. A bold mix of spy thriller, political intrigue and robust adventure. With a bright tinge of sci-fi mystery

A real tour-de-force.

And not a single dark lord or world ending apocalypse in sight.

I had intended to consume this book with slow grace and careful consideration but instead I devoured it in two or three days like a starving man at a buffet. Our favorite Archmage has instituted what I would like to call interim world building. We long time Spellmonger fans have seen Calladore unreel in our minds eye. But now there are new vistas and new dynamics in the world that are open to explore.

Bravo. And John Lee’s performance in the audiobook is sublime
Profile Image for William Howe.
1,800 reviews87 followers
September 26, 2024
Yes!

One of my concerns as the series continued was that Minalan was *so* powerful that he stopped *doing* things. A general commands troops; a marshal commands generals. Even when he conducted an operation, it mostly happened *around* him.

But this. This goes back to the early books. He’s doing practical magic and getting up to skullduggery *himself*. There aren’t massive forces maneuvering at his behest; he is on the field from the beginning.

*And*. It’s at least part mystery. Not just ‘what spell is he going to create’, but ‘who is this person’ and ‘is this person important’.

Could use a little better proofreading.

This was fun. Looking forward to the next book.
138 reviews
October 4, 2024
wow great story

Kind of long but great story. I hope there is another one in the future and I will wait for it to show up.
64 reviews5 followers
September 30, 2024
Masterclass in Organizational Leadership

Taking a step back from Phenomenal Cosmic Power, our favorite spellmonger takes the opportunity to wax philosophic about the nature of sovereignty, roles in leadership, tax structures and how to corner the market on an unmet need.. All while philosophically walking through the dark halls of his military PTSD in a rather functional way. Of course, that path is smoothed if you're one of the richest and most powerful people around, yet his newfound appreciation of the struggle of the common person shows that sometimes one must focus on the structure of society to reform the enjoyment and pursuit of growth experienced at a personal level.

Slight defenestration references, but more explicit splats would be lovely tales!
537 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2024
Absolute Masterpiece!

The Spellmonger does it again! The time has come and despite how much he’s tried to avoid the issue it’s finally time to go and deal with the issue of Farise.

Formerly a subject of the Castalshar Crown, Farise slipped from King Rard’s grasp when his idiot son Tavard borrowed the troops and some ships stationed there when he sailed to Enultramar (Alshar’s wealthy coastal region) on the pretence of outrage regarding his sister’s kidnapping. Of course everyone already knew that by then Rardine was being held in Olum Seheri by the forces of Sheruel The Dead God and Korbal the Nemovorti necromancer. Tavard’s great invasion and planned conquest of Enultramar (later to include the rest of Alshar) failed dramatically.

The game is afoot, Minalan is headed back to the place of his oldest nightmares but this time he’s going in disguise. The one thing that Rard has forgotten but will probably still be annoyed about is that he gave Minalan leave to deal with it his own way. It was the least Rard could agree to because after all he was footing the bill for it as well. No one needs to know that a shortage of gold is never going to be one of Minalan’s problems. Now he needs to find out who or what are The Contramara and The Eye.

Superbly written, the whole thing is a joy to read. I’m looking forward to reading further future instalments.
28 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2024
Amazing.

I detest Amazon requiring twenty words for this, or any, review to be posted. This is a great book and i this or BOTH and a fan, AND as a former soldier haunted by a hot far away place. Min revisiting his demons as handled well, and the topic of Farise was more than just a hollow shell to visit the topic of a seminal time and force which shaped the earliest posted of the series..... OR at least SHAPED THE MEN who first went into a mountain vale needing peace but were shockingly ready when hell descended the Kuline mountains and settled on Min's village at 2am. We SEE why and how Farise became the place peopled with the humans whose inhumanity spread terror among those young soldiers. Despite that, Farise is shown to be a place of beaut, and history, where its importance eclipses the widely held pretension of being the last vestige of the Magocracy. So appologies, I am writing this at near 4am.... Bottom line? This is line or the best books on the series AND Farise and it's people are INTERESTING!! Not predictable and a boring yet necessary foundation finally n visited (as I INCORRECTLY ASAUMED)! A FUN TIME and important to the cannon of the story.
6 reviews
October 9, 2024
Personal & Editorial Notes

Firstly I loved the book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, I’ve read every book and really look forward to this series every year. A quick statement about what I’m going to say though, this is not meant in any way as harmful critiques but honest feedback meant to improve the quality of the book I really loved.

Spelling error, page 115
od corrected to of
Missing word, page 122
why came to why I came
Spelling error page 299
Mmarket to Market
Present tense in past tense Page 422
Proceeding to proceeded
Spelling error page 706
todaym to today
Spelling error page 726
Cinghaiul’ to Cingaran
Flow/ transition Page 774
‘be challenge…’ to or just ‘challenge’ or ‘be challenging’
Spelling error page 795
aske, to asked
Spelling error page 866
Simplel to simple
Spacing and punctuation error page 904
‘…by afternoon. .So…’ to ‘afternoon. So’
Spelling error Page 1036
late to later
1,434 reviews9 followers
December 1, 2024
Terry Mancour has been writing about a world of magic that has been settled by numerous species. Minalan the Spellmonger has gone from a regular mage to the most powerful in the world. The main problem of the series is that in three thousand years the world will lose its magic releasing monsters. The current problem in the city of Farise, home of pirates, The king wants Minalan to deal with the pirates. Unfortunately he had been part of an invasion of the city in his youth that didn’t go well and left him with horrible memories. So, instead of sending an Army, he goes undercover as a Practical Adept (ebook). Using his friends as spies he tries to understand the politics of a city falling into revolution. He also finds a daughter he never knew he had. I really like this series and am really looking forward to an actual ending a few books ahead.
5 reviews
December 3, 2024
powerful and insightful

Loved this book. I learned a lot about leadership, and sovereignty, on both a personal and collective level. Also the simple reality of the destructive aspects of each and every person and how they are so much like nature and a powerful thunderstorm. It is metaphorically a story about storms and energy that is generated by intense polarities inside people, in nature and in polotics and culture. Out of that, this book says can come an opportunity for a profound change in people but only if we accept that it is messy, always will be, and utopias are the last refuge of those without the metal and emotional strength to accept the inherent pain of life on its own terms. The need for perfection is but one stance that leads to atrocity. I am thankful for the author’s honesty, insight and courage to write about revolutions as they really can be.
Profile Image for Lois Mix.
13 reviews
September 26, 2024
terry Mancour’ continuation of best world building fantasy continues!

I love this series! Terry Mancour continues to up his game in this book! Each book brings in new and exciting information that leads to a broader scope of understanding of the status of the population. As Terry seduces you into a world that has lost technology and replaces it with magic. Our hero discovers that the ancestors who settled the planet has left behind technology that will help them survive if they can find the tools they need to bring their civilization back to its formal glory. Each book adds layers of new challenges and unique opportunities. I love this series. I highly recommend reading the series. Book 17 is amazing!
Profile Image for Courtney Egan.
6 reviews
October 20, 2024
a must read again

Once again Terry has astounded and entertained us, bringing us deeper into the world of Callidore. Minlan the Spellmonger in all of his glory wit and lechery teaches us even more of what a wizard can do, to protect those he feels responsible for, and aspires to higher ideals of how best to do that. In this book we meet a new character Murkander the Magnificent, an ice wizard. He enjoys making new friends and bringing a bit of chill to the poor people of Farise. Along the way he and his band of Warmages, councilors and spies conspire to take control of the chaos, and found the beginning of the third Magocracy.

Thank you Terry Mancour, every page of everyone of these books brings a feeling of wonder while reading.
22 reviews7 followers
January 16, 2025
Great story, poor editing

This continues the legacy of good story telling by mancour. I've enjoyed his main series for a number of years. Minalan the spellmonger tasks on tasks, and they aren't necessarily bigger and badder than the last big bad guy. This brings a new aspect into the realm of big bands, old memories.
The book and plot were great. The editing was awful. Misspelled words, wrong words, there, their, they're was wrong a number of times. Using the wrong name, farise instead of falas or alshar. I haven't noticed that in previous books, but this had quite a number, enough that I took notice. Was a bit distracting. Hopefully that's just the kindle edition. One day I will buy the paperback version.
892 reviews3 followers
August 29, 2025
This marked a new chapter in the Spellmonger series as we are done with the goblins (for now). This one was all about Mirilan conquering Farise. I really like that instead of some big war, he did it with subterfuge. It was a nice change and it worked well.

Profile Image for David Chubrick.
22 reviews
September 28, 2024
The 17th book...a whole new epoch begins

#17... no gurvavni, no warlords, no undead, and no dragons. Just try and take over the world (Farise).

But Farise is never all that it seems and under the persona of Mirkandar the practical adept and the ice maker (yes, ice...it's hot there, remember), Min must embrace his new role while utilizing his wisdom and his canny to delve into the depths of the culture. But he gets by with a little help from his friends...

And what will Alya think of another dramatic discovery...
13 reviews2 followers
October 2, 2024
I have been a dedicated fan of this series since the first book and have eagerly awaited each new release. However, I regret to say that I believe this series may have reached its end.

In this book, we are once again treated to the entertaining and formidable Minalan, who has remained consistent throughout the series. What sets this book apart is Minalan's decision to set aside his extraordinary spells and tools in favor of discretion.

Despite these positive aspects, I sensed a weariness in the author's portrayal of Minalan, which was reflected in the overall tone of the book.
3 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2024
Another excellent spellmonger book

I've read all the books and adjacent novellas and I've loved them all. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I only have one criticism of this book in particular. About 30% into the book there is a chapter filled with new terms related to the system of magic in the spellmonger universe. Probably more than all the other books combined. It felt forced... and unnecessary... a few here and there? Great. An entire chapter full? That's a brief annoyance, Minus 0.05 stsrs. 4.95 stars rounds up to 5.
15 reviews
November 22, 2024
Maybe one of the best yet?

What do you say after more than 17 books on a series have been written? I honestly think this may be one of the best Terry has written in a long time. Great mystery, intrigue, and just fun. You can tell throughout the book that it's important to the whole series, but it's not directly important during the actual book. I know that doesn't make sense but it does once you've read it. Some how he keeps the plot alive on the over plot. I really think this is as good as any other fantasy series that's been written. Keep going Terry
Profile Image for Zachary.
699 reviews14 followers
January 17, 2025
This was such a fun diversion from the other books of the series. It wasn't quite a call-back to some of the previous stuff in the series as it was a foray into the Spellmonger fighting a war on his own terms. It wasn't quite a political thriller, but that was definitely an aspect of it. All in all, I really enjoyed this. And I am really intrigued to see what comes next in the series, as this book definitely changed the political landscape and will ultimate cause a massive shift of power in the nations. Crazy stuff - but I'm here for it!
Profile Image for Thomas Paradis.
13 reviews
September 26, 2024
Great Series

I have been reading all of Terry’s books for many years now I have enjoyed everyone. This book follows the story of the spellmonger. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed every single one. This one was truly great though. Each of these books in the series brings to life the characters so well that you really feel for them. I can’t say enough about how enjoyable this.

Tom
40 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2024
what a fantastic story - magic, conquest, revolution it has it all. I keep getting surprised by every single book in the spell monger series. Just love the layers and layers of interconnected stories that span the series and at the same time the well contained story within each one. It's one of the best fantasy series out there. the island of Farise really comes to life and the layers of stories are so intriguing.
2 reviews
November 12, 2024
Just as great as any other SM story.

I may be a bit of a fan at this point, however I wouldn’t say the book is great if it weren’t. Great new chapter in Min and Calledore’s story. I’ve enjoyed these from the very beginning, and this book is a great example of why. Min has a shocking revelation while undercover in Farise, and we get a new character to keep things interesting. If you have enjoyed any SM book, you will enjoy this one as well.
2 reviews
September 28, 2024
Every waiting moment of agony was vindicated

This book was worth the wait. The twists were slower and more mild, but in the end, it is hard not to be sucked up in the immensity of the story! Thank you, I plan on reading it at least ten times more before the next one comes out! Please make it soon!
Profile Image for Romanticfae.
133 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2024
I love this series

I’m a huge fan of this book series and I am always happy when a new instalment comes out Minalen is just such a fun mc and it’s always wonderful seeing how the author has the character grow as well as the world building and I’m enjoying the new adventure away from gurvani and that story line.
122 reviews
September 29, 2024
A fabulous story

This story has a unique flavor among the spellmonger series, I love how Min has evolved and grown over time, and facing his past in Ferise is a fantastic way to showcase this. Having the intrigue and undercover work of Ferise, as compared to great undead battles was a fun turn in the series, and I can't wait for the next book!
34 reviews
September 30, 2024
Practical Adept : Book 17 of the Spellmonger Series

Obviously if you have read 17 books in a series, Terry Mancour is an outstanding author. Not to mention all of the stand alones. My personal problem is there are to be 30 books. I'm 67. 13 more books. I must live to be 80 years old! I will do my best.
31 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2024
I absolutely love these books

I love this series, and I loved this book. Honestly if you liked the rest I think you'll like this. Currently there are a lot of editing issues like typos, but I imagine that will be corrected shortly. Other than that it's pretty much the spellmonger at his finest and if you've gotten this far you shouldn't be disappointed here.
Profile Image for Suzy.
171 reviews
October 10, 2024
Terry Mancour delivers again

The practical adapt is a great addition to the Spellmonger series. It was a pleasure to learn more about the main characters. The story is fun and there is lots of adventure mixed in. The story plot kept getting better with each page. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
7 reviews
October 11, 2024
Riveting!

It was hard to put down. Min's development continues. The unexpected life-altering encounter was a shock. I kept thinking something else was controlling the situation, but I was way off in my speculation. That part of the story moves slowly. I hope book 18 comes out SOON!!!
123 reviews1 follower
October 11, 2024
Excellent entertainment

Very well written book about a wizard using his smarts, and less his brawn, to control a complicated situation. You'd think that by the 17th book in the series, the action would wind down; not even close! The story line is branching in a most interesting way. I hope the next books in the series are coming soon!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews

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